Machha Ambula Besara

Fish in mustard and dry mango gravy.
A typical odiya fish curry.

It is one of the most cherished recipe from Mom's kitchen, a quick version of fish recipe that would have not much spices and would have a thin gravy, but would taste divine.
In odisha, normally people prepare this recipe with Rohu fish.

But I have used Farsi fish instead of rohu. And it tasted amazing.
Here I am sharing this recipe with my fish love ;)

Ingredients:

To Marinate: 
6 whole Farsi Fishes
1 tbsp mustard oil
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp salt

To prepare gravy:
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
8 garlic cloves, minced
6 to 8 green chillies, slit
1\4 tsp red chilli powder
1\2 tsp of turmeric powder
6 tbsp mustard oil
6 dry sliced mangoes (Ambula) each 1 inch
2 medium sized onion, finely chopped
1\2 tsp panch phutana
5 curry leaves (optional)
3 cups of water or more as required
Salt to taste

NOTE:

1. Panch phutana is whole spice mixture consisting of fenugreek seed, nigella seed, cumin seed, black mustard seed and fennel seed in equal parts.
2. Ambula is dried salted green mango under sun. Sour in taste.

Method:

1. Clean the fish by removing the gallbladder to avoid bitter taste.
2. Wash fish properly.
3. Add mustard oil, salt and turmeric powder. Mix well.
4. Marinate the fishes with above mixture and keep them for about 30 minutes.
5. Heat mustard oil in a wok and shallow fry fishes till both sides become brown/golden yellow in colour.
6. Make a fine paste of mustard seeds, cumin seeds and garlic. Keep aside.
7. Place the fried fishes on tissue napkins to remove excess oil from them.
8. Now in the same wok, add panch phutana.
9. Once it starts to crackle, add chopped onion and saute them till it starts to brown.
10. Add curry leaves if you want.
11. Add the paste, salt and turmeric powder.
12. Stir it for maximum 2 minutes in medium flame.
13. Add one cup water and let it boil for 10 minutes.
14. Then add 2 cups water.
15. Once water is hot, add dry mangoes and cover it for 5 minutes in high flame.
16. Add fried fish and cook in medium flame for 5 minutes.
17. Remove the cover and cook them till the gravy thickens.

Serve this curry with rice and enjoy.